🕊️ From Gaza to Egypt: A Mother’s Fight to Save Her Triplets

She Carried Three Babies Through War People often ask me how families find their way to me. The truth is that most of these connections begin with another human being opening a door. A few weeks ago, another mutual aid organizer named Rosa from Wisconsin reached out to me. Because of personal circumstances, she was no longer able to manage the eleven Gaza campaigns she had been supporting. I offered to take them on. One of those families was Maryam’s. Today, Maryam came to me with a simple request: “Can you help my friend?” And I said yes. Because I am a mutual aid organizer. This is what I do. I open doors. That door has now led me to Roaa. Roaa is only 22 years old. She is originally from Gaza and is the mother of four children: a five-year-old daughter and two-year-old triplets. When the war began on October 7, 2023, Roaa was only two months pregnant with triplets. Because of the high-risk nature of her pregnancy, she relied on progesterone supplements, vitamins, and ongoing medical care to help keep her babies safe. But when war broke out, everything changed. Shortly after undergoing surgery, Roaa was forced to leave the hospital because nearby buildings were under threat. Within days, she was displaced on foot to a school shelter in Rafah. For six months, she endured war, displacement, fear, hunger, and uncertainty while carrying three babies. There was often little food, limited access to clean water, and almost no medical care for a young woman carrying a high-risk pregnancy. Yet somehow, she kept going. She fought for her children every single day. Eventually, with the help of journalist Amr Tabash, Roaa was able to travel to Egypt to give birth. Doctors feared that without specialized care, she or one of the babies might not survive. Today, those triplets are two years old. When I saw the photos, I couldn’t help but smile. Three toddlers sitting side by side, alive because their mother refused to give up. But survival did not end the struggle. The lack of proper medical care during pregnancy left lasting consequences. Roaa lost four teeth and now requires dental treatment costing more than $2,000, a cost she cannot afford. At the same time, she carries the daily responsibility of raising four young children, including three toddlers the same age. As many of you know, I do not fund campaigns myself. I open doors. Today, I am opening a door for Roaa. If her story touches your heart, please consider donating, sharing, or leaving a kind word of encouragement. Because sometimes all it takes to change a life is one person opening a door. ❤️ — Gigi Wong Lotus Lantern Initiative